I have an Itchy nose Problem with Pillow Mask

Greetings from new member. I am 81 yrs old and in good health for my age. After a sleep study, I discovered I have severe sleep Apnea and needed a CPAP machine. I had 97 apnea episodes a night which should have been between 5-20 on the scale. I had no usual symptoms such as sleepiness the next day, etc. Also I do not need feel a need to nap during the day. Only possible symptoms I have is as bit of crankiness or impatience during the day.

My doctor had me use a CPAP for 30 day trial. I used Philips Respironics / Auto Dream Station with a full mask.
I had a very uncomfortable experience with the full mask and getting used to the CPAP machine. But I completed a month and got full report.

Because of problems with the auto machine and full mask, my doctor then recommended I try a BPAP with a nose pillow mask. Since the BPAP alternates my breaths between 8-12 pressure ,it was much more comfortable for me to breath. With a nose pillow the mouth is uncovered but closed all night but not a problem for me. Also with pillow mask you do not need a contour pillow like with a full mask. Besides they do not sell contour pillows in Ecuador where I live.

My Problem: I have had an "itchy nose" problem for years where the skin around and just under my nostrils itches a lot during the daytime and I have to scratch a lot. I have seen doctors and tried numerous creams, etc and nothing stops the daytime itching. Doctors have no solution. This is very bad news for CPAP users.

Without a mask my nose does not itch when I go to sleep or during the night.
But with the BPAP pillow mask, the skin under and around my nose itches a lot and I have to use a finger to scratch, numerous times. So I find it very difficult to use the pillow mask and I have used the BPAP about 4-7 hours a night at the beginning and three weeks later the itching got so bad I take if off after only 1-2 hrs use. Not enough hrs to treat sleep apnea !! I do not see how I can continue to use a BPAP machine for a full night sleep!

I would like to know if others have experienced the "itchy nose" problem like me and if they ever found a solution?/

Welcome to the forum!

gleboca97 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:26 pm

a nose pillow mask

Which model mask are you using? There are many models - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks/nasal-p ... ask#:99999:::::::

Try this, sounds silly but often works.

Scratch your nose BEFORE you put on your nasal pillow. Really scratch it like the itch is driving you nuts, even if you aren't feeling it at the moment (not enough to injure your skin, though!). Then put on your mask and go to sleep.

The sensory input from scratching attenuates the sensation of itching by overloading the nerves so brain shuts off the incoming signals for a while. Then the itching may not bother you the rest of the night. (Ever walk into a smelly room and after a few minutes you don't notice the smell anymore? Same thing).

Simple, and worth a try.

gleboca97 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:26 pm

I would like to know if others have experienced the "itchy nose" problem like me and if they ever found a solution?

When I first started with CPAP, my nose would itch. I read on here to rub the nose gently with a dry clean cotton washcloth just before putting on the mask. Supposedly, this temporarily overloads the nerves near the surface of the skin and stops the itching. It worked for me! I don't know why, but I rarely have to do it now.

PaleRider also writes on here to trim hairs inside the nose. If they are long, they will make the outside of your nose itchy.